From Larva to Livin’ Large

Everyone has to start somewhere. In the case of some fish, this means beginning their lives in the larval stage, eating microscopic creatures until they transition into their ultimate big-bodied selves.

Below is a collection of several fish species and what they looked like before and AFTER their growth spurts. Get ready for some craziness…

Zebrafish(Danio rerio)

before

image credit: inquisitr.com

after

image credit: student.santarosa.edu

Leaf Scorpionfish(Taenianotus triacanthus)

before

Copyright: Chris Newbert, Minden Pictures

after

image credit: livingreefs.com

Monkfish

(Lophius vomerinus)

before

image credit: innovations-report.com

after

image credit: scienceblogs.com

Ocean Sunfish

(Mola mola)

before

image credit: norbertwu.com

after

copyright: Phillip Colla, oceanlight.com

King Mackerel

(Scomberomorus cavalla)

before

image credit: dnr.sc.gov

after

image credit: tarponwiz.com

Swordfish

(Xiphias gladius)

before

image credit: thenakedscientists.com

after

image credit: gofishn.com

Brittle Star

(class Ophiuroidea)

before

image credit: sciencephoto.com

after

image credit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

Octopus

(genus Octopus)

before

image credit: australianmuseum.net.au

after

image credit: bdoutdoors.com

Blue Marlin

(Makaira nigricans)

before

image credit: tamug.edu

after

image credit: animalphotos.tk

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